Whether you're buying your first house or your fifth, a buying a house is a big deal. Not only is it a huge financial investment, it's also an emotional one. This is where you and your family will live every day, and you have to be sure you're purchasing more than just a good deal. You need a place to call home.

Follow this step-by-step process to make your purchase less daunting and more fun.

• Get your Credit in Order - Don’t get a copy of your credit report if you don’t have to, but do make sure your bills are in order and up to date. You don’t have to pay them all in full, but make sure you don’t have any overdue bills or any bills with a collection agency.

• Get Pre-Approved - Ask around and find a reputable mortgage lending company. You have a couple of choices. My personal preference is to ask around and find a local company that will work with you face-to-face. But another option is to use a company that you will find online. There are many reputable online mortgage brokers.

Pre-approval is just the jumping off point in buying a house. Your lender will help you figure out the price range of houses you can afford, and it allows you to make an offer on a house more easily.

If you have money to put down on a house, try to put down at least 20%. If you put down less than that you will be required to pay for mortgage insurance, which is just the bank’s way of making sure they get their money if something ever happens to you. It will add a little extra to your monthly payment, and that’s something you don’t need.

If you have no money for a down payment, not to worry. The mortgage company can help you out. Even if you are getting 100% loan, you can actually borrow what you need for the closing costs on top of the loan you’ll be getting for the house. Talk to the lender about it and you’ll see - it’s pretty easy.

• Get a Realtor - Now, maybe you’re thinking of trying to go through the process without a realtor. That’s certainly your prerogative, and if that is what you want to do, more power to you. I think a realtor can really help you out though. Realtors do more than just show you the good houses. They handle the contracts, help you negotiate the price, and set up the closing. If you don’t know what you’re doing, a realtor will explain it to you in detail.

• Look at all the Options - Look online at all the houses in your price range. Start narrowing down your options, deciding on what you want and don’t want in a house. Make lists of what’s important to you. Number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, extra options such as a pool or fenced yard or new roof. Try to find houses that have something special about them, such as a bonus room or a deck or other extra feature.

Looking at houses is the fun part. You get to visualize what your life will be like in each house. This is the emotional part of buying a house. Can you see yourself living there? Does the neighborhood look like something you’d like to drive into every day? Does it feel like this could be your home?

Ask these questions when looking at houses:

• What remodeling/painting/re-carpeting will I have to do? Can I afford it?
• Is this neighborhood safe?
• Is the location right for me?
• How would my stuff look in this house? Will I have to buy more furniture?
• Is there enough room for my family?
• What kind of heating/cooling system does it have? How old is it?
• Are the appliances included in the sale, or will I have to buy my own? Are they in good condition?
• Is there enough closet space?
• How are the bathrooms? Are the sinks chipped and the mirrors rusted? Is the lighting adequate or will I have to fix these things?
• Is this a low or high maintenance yard?
• What is the water source?
• Is the house on a septic tank?
• How old is the roof?

Let your realtor help you answer these questions:

• What price can I offer on this house?
• What is the price per square foot (it matters for resale later!)?
• What will my monthly payment be?
• How do you think the resale will be for this house in this neighborhood?
• What’s the age of the house?
• Are there any problems with the neighborhood, such as flood plains, sinkholes, fault lines, or anything else?
• Has there been termite damage to the house?
• Are there any easements on the property?
• How long has the house been for sale?

• Make Your Offer - Once you decide on the house you want, talk to you realtor about what to offer in terms of price. Never offer the full price unless there are other offers on the table. If the house has been for sale for a long time, you can try to make a low-ball offer, but don’t expect them to take it. Once you make your offer, the sellers are free to take it or make a counter offer. Then it’s up to you again to decide if you want the house for that price.

If you want to, you can ask the sellers to provide a home warranty in the deal. They can either accept or refuse your request.

Once everyone has agreed on a price, there will be a contract to sign. Make your offer contingent on the house appraising at that price and the inspection being to your satisfaction. You’ll sign some papers, choose a closing date, then your realtor will help you with the next step.

• Appraisal - It is the buyer’s job to get the appraisal, and this is a requirement of the bank. A professional appraiser will compare the house in question to other houses in the area to make sure you are getting a fair price.

• Inspection - This step is up to you, but it is highly recommended. Hire an inspector to check the house over for things like wiring, plumbing, and structural soundness. If the seller has listed the house "as is" then you will not be able to ask for improvements. If there are many problems, it's better to find out now.

• Closing Date - When the time comes, you and the sellers, along with your realtor, will meet at the title company to sign a WHOLE BUNCH of papers. I’m not even going to go into what all you have to sign - that’s what your realtor is for. Once all the i's are dotted and the t’s are crossed, the house is yours to move into!

Congratulations! You’re a Home Owner!!